Word Origin & History

sidetrack "railway siding," 1835, from side (adj.) + track (q.v.). The verb meaning "to move (a train car) onto a sidetrack" is from 1880; fig. sense of "to divert from the main purpose" is attested from 1889

Example Sentences for side-tracked

Another train filled to overflowing with passengers and headed towards Mobile had side-tracked for the New Orleans train.

For in a letter I could say what I wanted to without being stopped or side-tracked.

Even bridge was side-tracked for the more absorbing political game, and evening after evening Captain Dan spent alone.

Our carriage had broken down and was going to be side-tracked.

I was going to say when I side-tracked myself: what got me up was Lyttleton.

To be side-tracked into a strange trail now would be a tragedy, indeed.

Word came to my wife one day that several hundred wounded were side-tracked at Furnes railway station.

Duty could not be side-tracked, regardless of what might have passed.

We are side-tracked now at the jolly place of the Moor and the Wireless Lorries; probably move on in the night.

My father duly made the offer that I had side-tracked by anticipation.